anyone who is familiar with the tattoo industry reply...?

Question

My boyfriend is interested in getting into the tattooing industry. he wants to be a tattoo artist, but doesn't know where to start. He has a few tattoos and is familiar with our local tattoo shops. He's very close with the guy who does his tattoos but wants to further his knowledge outside of this single shop. Does anyone have any ideas on where you need to begin in getting into this? Do you need and certain schooling or further education or is it a you have to know somebody to get into this type deal?
IF anyone is a tattoo artist please give your input on this. How did you get started and what can he do to get started?

Thank You!

Answer 1

First, your boyfriend needs to be an exceptionally talented artist in his own right. Having tattoos does not qualify someone to be/become a tattoo artist and unfortunately, that is all too often the case.

If someone is very skilled technically, even though they don't possess a strong artistic sense, they do tattoo, but their work is limited to flash designs. We are talking the difference between someone creating art and someone just doing coloring book work, or flash jockeys.

Some of the studios operate like that and don't even want artists to do custom work because it takes too much time...they want people in and out - I call them "drive-through" studios. Fortunately, that is not the norm.

So, assuming your B/F is extremely talented and has put together an elaborate portfolio of his work in categories and highlighting his "specialty" or favorite type of work, he should start looking for an apprenticeship. He needs to scour the Internet in the area to look at artists' work he likes and then visit the studio to make an appointment with the artist. (Very important - show that you value his/her time.)

I won't even talk to people who show up a mess. My artists have to be clean and neat in appearance and their work areas pristine. If someone can't take care of their own personal hygiene, I am not convinced they will work clean and safe.

Regarding apprentice fees. Some artists take on apprentices without cost and enter into an agreement that they will work for the studio for a pre-determined amount of time afterwards; that they will help out and they end up doing a lot of the grunt work, but this is all part of what goes on daily, so they need to learn that as well. This does not translate into slave labor. That kind of thing has no place in today's studio. We respect our apprentices - they are there to learn.

Many charge a fee in lieu of a work contract. This occurs for two reasons - first, the studio already has enough artists and once trained, will let the apprentice/artist go and secondly, people appreciate things a lot more and work harder at what they have to pay for. No one wants to waste their time with slacker apprentices.

Expect a minimum of a year - some will not release an apprentice for three years. We have "working" apprentices - they have trained with us for over a year but are now signed off to do certain things for money, while they still continue to learn more and hone their skills.

Answer 2

well if he's close with the guy at the shop ask if he can hang out there and learn the ropes, then go to a tattoo school to get certified. then tattoo and build up a portfolio.

Answer 3

my boyfriend went through all this too.
first things first, he should look around and find an amazing artist who is willing to take on an apprentice. then they'll guide him through the rest. oh, don't let him pay for his apprenticeship. the better the artist, the better education/technique he'll get.
good luck it's a pretty long process or at least it should be.